She thought again of her mother’s fears. Savannah didn’t blame Ernestine for worrying. After all, Ernestine had had to pick up the pieces the last time Savannah had made a mistake. But she told herself again that it would be different this time. For one thing, she was an adult now, capable of taking care of herself when something went wrong.
And she knew all too well that something could go wrong between her and Kit. But, unlike her mother, she trusted Kit. She had to believe that he wouldn’t hurt her deliberately. That he wasn’t using her, as Vince had.
The obstacles between them could well be insurmountable, but she refused to believe that Kit was anything but a good man. An honest man. If he’d just wanted another notch on his bedpost, he would have gone after someone with a lot less baggage. Or he would have disappeared for good after he’d made love with her last weekend.
But, instead, he’d come back. And he’d brought gifts for her family. Taken her children to dinner. And left Savannah at her door rather than pressuring for time alone with her because they’d both been concerned about her daughter.
She hadn’t fallen in love with a pretty face, she realized with a faint sense of relief. She’d fallen for a man who happened to be rich and famous along with his other very admirable characteristics.
And maybe—just maybe—there was a chance they could make this thing work.
SAVANNAH KNEW the moment she opened the door to Kit the next afternoon that something was wrong. She could te
ll by the apologetic look on his face.
“What is it?” she asked apprehensively.
He gave her a fleeting smile, then brushed a kiss across her mouth as he stepped past her into the house. “See? You’re getting to know me pretty well.”
“Well enough to know when there’s something you don’t want to tell me.” She followed him into the living room, then turned to face him, searching his face for clues.
“I have to go back to L.A.”
Her stomach sank. “When?”
“Today. This afternoon. My flight leaves Atlanta in an hour and a half, which just barely gives me time to get there after I tell everyone goodbye.”
He wouldn’t be there for Michael’s game that evening, Savannah thought. Michael would be so disappointed.
She would deal with her own disappointment later.
“It’s business,” he explained. “A last-minute glitch in the new deal. I tried to talk my agent into handling it without me, but he thinks I need to be there.”
“I understand,” she assured him. “Go take care of your business, Kit”
“Are the kids here? I want to explain to Michael.”
“Michael’s already at the ballpark. The coach wanted the players there an hour early.”
Kit frowned and nodded. “Be sure and tell him I really wanted to stay. I’d be there if I could.”
“I’ll tell him.”
“Is Miranda here?”
“She’s in the kitchen with Mother.”
Kit glanced toward the hallway that led to the kitchen. “Is Miranda feeling better?”
“Yes. Whatever was bothering her, she seems to have put it behind her. She’s been chattering like a magpie this morning. Moody teenager, remember?”
Taking advantage of their momentary privacy, Kit turned to place a hand behind Savannah’s head and pull her to him for a quick, hard kiss. “I don’t want to leave you again so soon,” he groaned.
“I don’t want you to go,” she admitted. “But I understand.”
“Savannah…come with me. We can be back Monday.”
“I can’t, Kit.”